100 Years: World War I and the Weight of Sacrifice
Welcome remarks for
100 Years: World War I and the Weight of Sacrifice
Thursday, April 13, at 7 p.m.
McGowan Theater, Archives I
Good evening, I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased to welcome you to the McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. Whether you鈥檙e here in the theater or watching us on YouTube, we鈥檙e glad you could join us for tonight鈥檚 discussion about the National World War One Memorial in Washington, DC.
We present this program in partnership with the United States World War One Centennial Commission, and I thank them for their support.
Before we get to tonight鈥檚 discussion, I鈥檇 like to alert you to two other programs coming up soon in this theater.
Next Wednesday, April 19, at 2 p.m., Sam Rushay, supervisory archivist at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, will be here to talk about the historical significance of the Truman Doctrine in observance of its 70th anniversary.
The next evening, Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m., authors Larrie Ferreiro and Fran莽ois Furstenberg will bring us back to our nation鈥檚 founding as recounted in their books, Brothers at Arms: American Independence and the Men of France and Spain Who Saved It and When the United States Spoke French: Five Refugees Who Shaped a Nation.
To learn more about these and all of our public programs and exhibits, consult our monthly Calendar of Events in print or online at Archives.gov. There are copies in the lobby鈥攁long with a sign-up sheet so you can receive it by regular mail or email. You鈥檒l also find brochures about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Pick up your application for membership in the lobby or become a member online at archivesfoundation.org.
The 威尼斯人娱乐场 is the largest repository of American World War One records. That collection began with our very first accession鈥攖he records of three defunct World War One鈥揺ra agencies that regulated the supply, distribution, and conservation of food.
As many Government posters had proclaimed, 鈥淔ood Will Win the War,鈥� but fighting men were needed on the fields of France and on the seas.
Wilson had committed the United States to war with a skeleton fighting force. Between the Regular Army and the National Guard, the nation鈥檚 military might rested on fewer than 200,000 men. After instituting a national draft, more than 4 million Doughboys served in the U.S. Army, and half of those fought overseas.
The records of those millions of men鈥攁nd women who served as nurses, telephone operators, and Navy yeomen鈥攅ventually swelled the holdings of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 holdings. They were joined by 24 million draft registration cards, military operational records, and records of civilian agencies that supported the war effort.
America鈥檚 wartime activities were extensively documented on film鈥攂oth still and motion picture. A generous gift from an anonymous donor has allowed us to preserve and digitize World War One and World War Two motion picture films. The World War One footage alone amounts to nearly 150 miles of film. We have also digitized more than 110,000 World War One photographs and made them available in the 威尼斯人娱乐场鈥� online Catalog.
The soldiers, sailors, and Marines returning to America at war鈥檚 end lived through boom times and bust. The Great Depression and rising global tensions consumed the nation鈥檚 attention. World War One鈥攖he Great War, the World War, the war to end all wars鈥攚as soon overshadowed by the country鈥檚 immersion into World War II.
Upon the centennial of the war, we acknowledge and honor the service and sacrifices of those who served 鈥渙ver there鈥� with a new memorial in the nation鈥檚 capital.
Now it is my pleasure to introduce the Vice Chair of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, Edwin Fountain. Previously, he served as General Counsel of the American Battle Monuments Commission and was a partner in the Washington, DC, office of the international law firm Jones Day, where he practiced for 24 years. He is the grandson of two World War I veterans.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Edwin Fountain.